A missing 9-year-old girl was discovered dead on Sunday after an Amber Alert was issued, according to an updated statement from the New York State Police (NYSP).
The alert for Melina Frattolin was issued on Saturday night.
“Melina was located deceased in Ticonderoga, New York,” NYSP said in the statement. “At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred and there is no threat to the public.”
During the initial Amber Alert, police assumed she had been abducted at Lake George. Since the initial investigation, authorities have discovered “inconsistencies” in the testimony of the child’s father, Luciano Frattolin, 45, who first reported the abduction.
The Context
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office first responded to a 911 call shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday, when the father reported a possible abduction near I-87 Exit 22 in Lake George, a renowned vacation destination.
An Amber Alert is a method that quickly disseminates information about an abducted kid to the public in order to aid in their safe recovery. It is a collaboration between law enforcement, broadcasters, and transportation authorities to immediately mobilize the community to assist in the search.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Forest Rangers, and NYSP K9 and aviation teams.
What To Know
The father and daughter were both from Canada, according to the NYSP statement.
In his initial report, Frattolin stated that his daughter was last seen around 9:40 p.m. near Lake George Village.
Authorities previously stated that Melina was removed under circumstances that led them to assume she was in imminent danger. Melina was initially characterized as a 9-year-old Indian female with brown hair and brown eyes.
The Amber Alert has been discontinued, and authorities believe there is no danger to the public.
What Happens Next?
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office has turned over the investigation to the NYSP.
They aim to conduct a press conference on Monday to present additional information about the case.
At this point, law enforcement has not said if Luciano Frattolin is facing any charges.
